Recycled Sweaters

So I’ve been meaning to make some new pillows for our couch since the day we brought it home 6 months ago.  I could never get motivated or decided on what exactly I wanted. A few months ago I sorted out our pile of sweaters in the closet for good will. There were two sweaters Gary and I never wear that my mom gave to us when we moved up here to Timbucktoo (aka Timberlakes) I couldn’t bring myself to give them away because they are beautiful but just a little too bulky to wear. So the light bulb went off and I figured I would find a way to use them as couch pillows and then I found a great sweater of Garys that matched pretty well and figured I’d use that as well. So today I broke out the needle and thread and here are the results…

Here’s the thing I’m proud of I didn’t even cut them up. The sweaters from my mom that is. I just turned in the arms and collars. Then tucked it to the size I wanted. Then I stitched the open ends with some crochet thread.

Gary’s sweater on the other hand, well I chopped that one up and used a blanket stitch with the crochet thread to stitch up the open ends and I stitched on a few buttons in necessary places as well like the neck.

I took the arms from that sweater and made the “Wee One” some pants. Sweater Pants. They actually turned out quiet well. I wouldn’t mind a pair myself if it were at all possible but I can’t really imagine fitting my legs into what is meant for arms. Anyway its great lounge wear for the babe. I found some instructions for making some sweater pants here.

Zen and the art of Chicken Soup

UPDATE

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Well I spoke too soon. The Wee One is sick. She had a temperature of 102.7 on Sunday evening so we  took her down to the “5’minute clinic” in Heber. Her temp registered 103.5 there yikes. We had a relatively good experience at the clinic the PA there was very helpful, understanding, and thorough. She was tested for strep, influenza, and urinary infection. Which all came out negative. So we loaded her up with some children’s Tylenol and some Motrin.  Yesterday and today the fever has been up and down. We took her to our regular Dr today to follow up. They did a chest x-ray and blood work. The x-ray was fine and we will get a call on the blood work later. We know she pretty much caught Gary’s virus but the MD’s wanted to run all those tests so they could rule out any other secondary issues. This is the first time Ellie has been really down and out sick. She’s had a little cold last year but never has had this high of a fever. Needless to say she is exhausted today after all the poking and proding. I’m not sure it was necessary to take her into the Dr today and put her through all that testing but it comes down to we are better off safe then sorry. So far today her fever has been more mild. So we will continue to direct our thoughts to healthy bodies and love…

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We had grand plans of going to Alta for a ski day today. Unfortunately Gary woke up with a very stuffy head ughh. It’s been around for a couple of days and he has put up a good fight but last night/this morning it has the upper hand. He caught this little cold while in Vegas last weekend. I was under the impression that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Humm….

So, Ellie and I took to the grocery store this morning to get some Chicken Noodle Love Soup essentials. You know like chicken, parsley, onions, Rootbeer (I can’t explain my RB obsession lately, weird), and a donut for good measure.

Here is my recipe:

Take a whole fryer chicken and put it in a big stew pot with 8 cups of chicken broth. Cook that up for about an hour. Meanwhile, chop all the veggies you have on hand like onions, carrots, celery, leeks, squash, and such. Think about how much you love your family while you chop. Chop up some parsley and dill while your at it. Reflect on the things that make you happy like a beautiful blue sky day, dogs, and laughter. When the chicken is done do what has to be done, and you know, separate the meat from the bones. This part is the worst but if it helps your sick one feel better it’s worth it. Put some more loving thoughts into what you are doing. Strain the chicken broth. Just smelling it is already making the sick one feel better. Add your veggies and chopped chicken to the broth and more water if you need it. Let these cook. Think some more about healing the sick one with some love and soup. When the veggies seem soft add some noodles. Again, pour some good healthy thoughts in there too and stir it up. Finally when the noodles are done serve it up. While enjoying your chicken noodle love soup think about how your not going to get sick.  Really,  your not and neither is the Wee One.

One more thing you can enjoy with your soup.

“Ginger Lemon I Feel Sorry for You Honey Tea”

Fill your teapot up with water, peel and slice some fresh ginger, add some lemon slices. Heat it up until nice and steamy. Spoon out a dollop of honey into your favorite mug. Poor the ginger-lemon water over the honey spoon. Sip and relax.

A Different Sort of Skiing

I picked up a pair of Cross Country skis this weekend. Complements of “Dave” and his ad in the KSL classifieds. It was a screaming deal a newish pair of skis, bindings, and size 6.5 woman’s boots all for 40 smackers. Perfect! I feel very lucky and am glad I made the hour plus drive to go get them. I don’t even think these babies have been skied on more than once before they were turned over to me. The boots don’t even have any scuff marks or signs of wear. Amazing what can happen when you put a little request out into the cosmic soup.

Ellie and I took them for a little test run yesterday in the yard and such. I felt pretty confident that we could handle it and I wont lie the beautiful sunny day helped motivate as well. So, today we went out for the real deal. We went to Wasatch Mountain State Park in Midway where there is a groomed track. It was a good time hardly a person around save for the 3 older gentlemen who swooshed by and were psyched to see such a “wee one” out and about.

At any rate we had a good time today. I thoroughly enjoyed getting outside, breathing fresh air, and exercise. I think Ellie liked it, she pointed out a few trees that caught her interest. Her favorite part was at the end of the tour when she got to get out of the pack and play and stomp in the snow. She loves being outside. Whenever Gary or I pick her up to bring her in she protests. Cold and wet doesn’t seem to phase her yet.

My Favorite Christmas Picture of 2008

Thanks Danielle for capturing the moment and puting it up for us to share. Love all your pictures from Christmas Eve.  These are my favorites…

Christmas Backlog

We enjoyed Christmas this year so much we lost ourselves in it. It was a special Christmas for Gary, Ellie and I this year because we were able to combine both the Marcoccia’s and the McKenney’s. My parents decided to come along with us to New York and spend the Holidays with the Marcoccia’s. So needless to say our hearts were full and we had a wonderful time. Everyone got along fine. The Grandpa’s talked, and talked, and talked, and the Grandma’s cooked, and cooked, and cooked. Pretty much we were gluttons this Christmas. We were spoiled! We all came home 10 pound heavier literally. This I am not proud of and Gary has put himself on an oatmeal diet the last few days, and Ellie, oh my little sweet Ellie, well she is going to have to adjust to just one Mommy now and a few no’s thrown her way.

We have a ton of Photos up on flickr Check out our Christmas 2009 set here

After Christmas we had a Cider making day. It was a beautiful day so we brought out the apple press and made some cider up in the barn

My parents and I took a day trip to Niagara Falls. It was COLD. We were a little bummed out to find that the walk way was closed due to ice build up from the mist off the falls. We did well though it was a blue sky day and we had a nice lunch with a view of the river. On the way back we took route 14 down along Seneca Lake which turned out to be a good choice as the sunset we enjoyed a nice view of the NY Finger Lakes landscape.

Now we are home and I’m overwhelmed with a truck load of things I need to unpack, a house I need to get organized, groceries I must shop for, a body I need to get back into shape, and a winter I need to start enjoying.